Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas

The Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas comprise 4,131 acres of "virgin" hemlock-beech northern hardwoods forest on the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. The areas are actually two tracts: the Tionesta Scenic Area - 2,018 acres (northern portion); and the Tionesta Research Natural Area - 2,113 acres (southern portion).

The Tionesta areas were once part of a colonial grant to the Holland Land Company that was later held by small tanneries in Sheffield, Pennsylvania, as a reserve for hemlock tanbark. In 1936 the federal government purchased lands now included in the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas from the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company. On July 31, 1940 the Chief of the Forest Service designated the Tionesta Scenic Area and the Tionesta Natural Research Area to preserve this large remnant of uncut original forest. In 1973 the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas were added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks as the "largest virgin forest in the hemlock-white pine/northern hardwoods forest region of North America."

Although the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas contain large hemlock and beech trees that are more than 300 years old, some changes have affected the vegetation that you see today. For example, at least 3 tornados have blown over substantial numbers of trees in 1808, 1872, and most recently in 1985 when about 1,000 acres were blown over. This is a typical change overtime for a forest ecosystem.

A long-term over abundance of white-tailed deer has substantially reduced the diversity and abundance of understory shrubs, trees, and wildflowers. Insect and disease outbreaks such as the chestnut blight, elm spanworm and the beech bark disease complex have increased the mortality of overstory trees. The result is a forest that is similar to the forest that once covered much of the Allegheny Plateau but also different in many ways due to the many types of disturbances. A significant conservation action taken by WPC was to acquire the gas rights under the research natural area in the 1980s so that disturbance would be avoided. The scenic natural area does not have this protection.

Access Details
Follow US Rt 6 east from Warren to Sheffield and on east to near Ludlow. Just before Ludlow is a sign for FR 133. Turn right (south) and follow it about 4.5 miles to FR 148. Turn right (west). You will be in the Scenic Area for the next 2.5 miles. Just to the south of this area is the Research Area. FR 148 can also be reached by traveling south from Sheffield about 6 miles. Turn left (east) on FR 148, on which you will reach the Scenic Area after about 2 miles.

Text courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR); today's photo is from the WPC archives.

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